Valve for oil burners



J. T. HALAQS VALVE FOR 011. BURNERS Filed Aug. 17, 1938 Sept. 26, 1939.

3' HHLFIS N INVENTOR JUSE'PH 7.

/JA/l Patented Sept. 26, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Glaims.

This invention relates generally to improvements in the art of controlling the transmission of liquid fuel such as oil to a liquid fuel combustion device such as an oil burner or the like, and more specifically to improvements in the construction and operation of oil burner regulating and relief valves.

In the broader aspects thereof the present invention has among its objects the provision of an improved fluid flow regulating valve which is extremely simple in construction and very highly efficient in operation.

The prior art discloses various types of oil burner regulating and relief valves all of which are open to one or more objections on the grounds of, for example, inconsistant operation, clogging, difliculty of adjustment, lack of reliability in the maintenance of adjustment, nonuniformity in constant operation, intricate structure and expensive production costs.

All of these objections have been overcome by the present invention which has among its objects the provision of an oil burner control valve structure having none of these disadvantages.

Another object herein is the provision of a liquid fuel flow control device which is flexible in operation'and permits easy installation and adjustment.

The present invention by reason of its pistonlike action overcomes all of the difficulties encountered in connection with prior art devices using diaphragms including those of the sylphon type which frequently crack at the most inconvenient times causing either complete failure of operation or causing oil to return to the storage tank through the by-pass therefor.

The present device is thoroughly reliable in operation and when once adjusted requires practically no attention.

A feature of this invention lies in the fact that by reason of the extremely simple construction thereof the valve may be manufactured at low cost and may be adapted for utilization in connection with any of the standard oil burning systems in current use.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages will more fully appear in the progress of this disclosure and as pointed out in the appended claims.

In the. accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure and in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views thereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the device in its normal operating position and with the internal valve structure in the closed position thereof.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the internal valve structure in the open position thereof.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view as seen 10 from the right hand side of Figure 2. This figure is slightly reduced in scale.

Figure 4 is a schematic bottom plan view showing the device as set up for operation in connection with a typical fuel oil supply system for an oil combustion device.

The oil burner control valve indicated generally by numeral l0 includes an external housing II which is cylindrical in shape. The housing ll comprises a delivery portion I2, a cen- 20 tral body portion IS, a head portion l4, an inlet IS, a gauge outlet l6, and a by-pass outlet H. The housing II is preferably a machined casting and the general configuration thereof is best seen in Figures 1 and 3. The delivery portion I2 is in- 25 ternally threaded at l8 for suitable connection with a conduit or pipe I9 leading to any suitable nozzle or burner 20. The inner end of the cylinder 2| which is located within the portion i2 is adapted to threadedly engage the end 22 of the cylinder 24. The end 22 when installed is turned up tight until the undersurface of the flange portion 23 abuts the shoulder 24. The inner end of the cylinder 24 is provided with an integral cup 26 having an outwardly extending peripheral flange 21. When the flange portion 23 is brought up tight against the shoulder 24, the flange 21 is simultaneously brought up tightly against the shoulder 28. The cup 26 together with the central body portion l3 forms a pressure 0 chamber 29. The cylinder 24 is provided with a pair of relatively small orifices 3i! and a pair of relatively large orifices 3| which permit access into the inside of the cylinder 24.

Disposed within the cylinder 24 and adapted for longitudinal reciprocation therewithin is a piston 32. Piston 32 has the forward end thereof provided with a valve member. 33 which is of a shape complementary to the valve seat 34' located centrally of the flange portion 23. The forward end of the valve seat 34 is connected by means of the passage 68 to the cylinder 2! leading to the pipe [9. The rear end of the piston 32 is provided with an integral rod-like extension 35 which in turn is provided at the rear end thereof with an integral cup 36. The forward surface 31 of the cup 36 is connical in shape and is also reduced in diameter to form a peripheral passage 38 between itself and the inside of the cup 26. The surface3l is provided with a slot 39. The surface 31 is located with relation to the valve member 33 so that when the valve member 33 is in its fully seated or closed position the surface 3! abuts the shoulder 46 within the cup 26. Surrounding the valve member 33 is an annular chamber 4|, while surrounding the rod 35 is an annular chamber 42. The base of the cup 36 is provided with a pair of opposite and radially disposed passages 43 which communicate from the inside of the cup 36 to the passage 38. Threadedly engaged by the inside of the head portion I4 is a large nut 44 preferably having a hexagonal head 45. The nut 44' has a hollow cylindrical portion 56 and a plurality of radially disposed passages 5| which communicate with an annular passage 52 which in turn communicate with the by-pass outlet ll.

After the cylinder 24 has been installed within the housing H, so that the flange portion 23 abuts the shoulder 24 and the flange 2! abuts the shoulder 28, the nut 44 is inserted and tightened until its inner surface abuts the outer surface of the flange 21. Prior to the insertion of the nut 44-, however, the piston 32 has been inserted and the coil-spring 53 is placed within the cup 36 and the collar 54 is nested within the outer convolution. The outer portion of the nut 44 is provided with an internally threaded orifice which is adapted to engage the adjusting screw 55.

The large cap nut 56 is provided with a peripheral gasket 5'! and threadedly engages the internal threads in the inside wall of the head portion l4. The cap nut 56 is preferably provided with a hexagonal extension 59. The cap nut 56 may be provided as indicated by the dotdash lines on Figure 1 with an auxiliary cap nut 58. The cap nut 58 where utilized is for the purpose of reaching the adjusting screw 55 without removing the cap nut 56. The outer surface of the cap nut 56 is, of course, orificed and provided with an extended threaded nipple 59' upon which the cap nut 58 is engaged. The cap nut 56, (together with cap nut 58 when used) makes an oil and air-tight seal with the housing A suggested order of assembly is as follows: The cylinder 24 is threadedly engaged with the delivery portion |2 of the housing l3 and for the purpose of drawing the same up tight the notches 60 may be engaged by a suitable wrench. The piston and the other parts integral therewith is dropped into the cylinder 24. The spring 53 is dropped into the cup 36. The collar 54 is placed upon the spring. The nut 44 is inserted within the head portion 54 and drawn up tight by means of a wrench engaging the hexagonal portion 45. The adjusting screw 55 is engaged in the nut 44. The gasket 5? together with the nut 56 is screwed within the head portion 4, and finally the cap nut 56 is placed on the cap nut 56-if same is used.

The valve i0 is connected as indicated in Figure 4, that is with the pipe 9 connected to the delivery portion l2.

A fuel supply tank 6| is connected by means of a pipe 62 to a pump 63 which is in turn connected by means of a pipe 64 to the inlet 5. The bypass outlet I1 is connected by means of a pipe 65 to the supply tank 6| The gauge outlet I6 is connected to a pressure gauge 66.

Assuming the pump 63 to be operating, liquid fuel is forced through the pipe 64 into the inlet l5 whence the fuel passes into the pressure chamber 29 and thence through the orifices 36 and 3| into the chambers 4| and 42. As soon as the pressure against the surface 31 equals the expansive pressure of the spring 53, the piston 32 together with the valve member 33, rod 35, and cup 36 is moved toward the head portion I4 with the inner or rear edge of the cup 36 striking against the forward surface of the nut 44 as a rear limit. This movement opens the valve member 33 (see Figure 2 in which the extreme open position is shown) so that oil or other liquid fuel may pass from the chamber 4| into the passage 66, the chamber 2|, the pipe l9, and thence to the nozzle or burner 26. The space between the surface 31 and the shoulder 46, when the valve is in any intermediate open position, allows excess pressure to be relieved by bleeding fuel through the passage 38 thence through the passages 43 into the inside of the cup 36, thence into the hollow cylindrical portion 50 of the nut 44, thence through the passages 5| into the annular passage 52, and thence out through the by-pass outlet I! from which it drains back via the pipe 65'to the tank 6|.

The slot 33 is of very small diameter or crosssection compared with the opening existing at the seat 34, so that only a negligible quantity of fuel passes therethrough.

As soon as the thermostatic or manual control cuts off the power to the pump 63 the pressure in the chambers 29 and 42 drops and the spring 53 reciprocates the piston 32, the valve member 33, together with the connected parts into its closed position. The excess pressure existing in chambers 29 and 42 is then relieved by reason of the fact that the oil passes through the slot 39 into the passage 38, passages 43, cup 36, portion 50, passages 5|, passage 52, and outlet This bleeding or pressure relief allows themdicating gauge 66 to return to its no pressure position. As is well known in the art suitable brackets may be provided either attached to the housing or cast integral therewithfor the purpose of properly supporting the valve inoperating condition. In theconstruction of. the present invention it is desired that the valve seat and valve member be made of hardened steel or other durable material. For the other 'partssuitable materials such as brass, bronze, and aluminum may be used. It is desirable that sufficient clearance exist between the piston 32 and the cylinder 24 as well as the cup 36 inside of the cup 26, so that the piston may oscillate freely when the valve contains oils of fuel type viscosities.

By means of the screw 55, the pressure of the spring 53 may be adjusted so that the valve may open at any desired predeterminedpressure as for example or pounds per square inch. It is also desirable that the length of the screw 55 be such that the head 15 of said screw will abut the outer surface of the hexagonal portion 45 before the spring is completely compressed.

It may thus be seen that I have provided a novel and advantageous oil burner valve construction which accomplishes all of the desired objects set forth hereinabove.

The foregoing description has been made rather detailed for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

I claim:

1. In an oil burner valve: a housing forming a first hollow cylinder and having an inlet and an outlet; a second hollow cylinder having a valve seat at one end thereof, and positioned within and spaced from the inner wall of the first cylinder to provide a pressure chamber, said second cylinder having a first orifice adjacent the valve seat and a second orifice spaced longitudinally from the first orifice; a piston situated between the said orifices and within the second cylinder, and adapted for longitudinal reciprocation therewithin, said piston having at one end thereof a valve member adapted to coact with the valve seat and a cup at theother end thereof; resilient means acting upon the cup to keep the valve member closed; whereby fluid under pressure may enter the inlet, pass into the pressure chamber, through the orifices in the second cylinder and against the cup to oppose the resilient means and open the valve member.

2. In an oil burner valve: a housing forming a first hollow cylinder and having an inlet and an outlet; a second hollow cylinder having a valve seat at one end thereof and threadedly engaging the first cylinder adjacent said valve seat, and positioned within and spaced from the inner wall of the first cylinder to provide a pressure chamber, said second cylinder having a first orifice adjacent the valve seat and a second orifice spaced longitudinally from the first orifice; a piston situated between said orifices and within the second cylinder, and adapted for longitudinal reciprocation therewithin, said piston having at one end thereof a valve member adapted tocoact with the valve seat and a cup at the other end thereof; resilient means acting upon the cup to keep the valve member closed; whereby fluid under pressure may enter the inlet, pass into the pressure chamber, through the orifice-s in the second cylinder and against the cup to oppose the resilient means and open the valve member, allowing the fluid to pass through the outlet.

3. In an oil burner valve: a housing forming a first hollow cylinder and having an inlet and an outlet; a second hollow cylinder having a valve seat at one end thereof, and positioned Within and spaced from the inner wall of the first cylinder to provide a pressure chamber, said second cylinder having a first orifice adjacent the valve seat and a second orifice spaced longitudinally from the first orifice; a piston situated between the said orifices and within the second cylinder, and adapted for longitudinal reciprocation therewithin, said piston having at one end thereof a valve member adapted to coact with the valve seat and a cup at the other end thereof; resilient means acting upon the cup to keep the valve member closed; and means to regulate said resilient means; whereby fluid iuider pressure may enter the inlet, pass into the pressure chamber, through the orifices in the second cylinder and against the cup to oppose the resilient means and open the valve member.

4. In an oil burner valve: a housing forming a first hollow cylinder and having an inlet and an outlet; a second hollow cylinder having a valve seat at one end thereof and threadedly engaging the first cylinder adjacent said valve seat, and positioned Within and spaced from the inner wall of the first cylinder to provide a pressure chamber, said second cylinder having a first orifice adjacent the valve seat and a second orifice spaced longitudinally from the first orifice; a piston situated between said orifices and within the second cylinder, and adapted'for longitudinal reciprocation therewithin, said piston having at one end thereof a valve member adapted to coact with the valve seat and a cup at the other end thereof resilient-means acting upon the cupto keep the valve member closed; and means to regulate said resilient means; whereby fluid under pressure may enter the inlet, pass into the pressure chamber, through the orifices in the second cylinder and against the cup to oppose the resilient means and open the valve member, allowing the fluid to pass through the outlet.

5. In an oil burner valve: a housing forming a first hollow cylinder and having an inlet, a delivery outlet, and a by-pass outlet; at second hollow cylinder having a valve seat at one end thereof and positioned within and spaced from the inner wall of the first cylinder to provide a pressure chamber, said second cylinder having a first orifice adjacent the valve seat and a second orifice spaced longitudinally from the first orifice; a piston situated between the said orifices and within the second cylinder, and adapted for longitudinal reciprocation therewithin, said piston having at one end thereof a valve member adapted to coact with the valve seat and a cup at the other end thereof; resilient means acting upon the cup to keep the valve member closed; whereby fluid under pressure may enter the inlet, pass into the pressure chamber, through the second orifice in the second cylinder and against the cup to oppose the resilient means and open the valve member, so that the fluid may pass through the first orifice in the second cylinder, through the open valve, and through the delivery outlet; and pressure relief means to allow the pressure in the pressure chamber to be released when the valve member is in the closed position thereof, by allowing the fluid to escape through the by-pass' outlet.

6. In an oil burner valve: a housing forming a first hollow cylinder and having an inlet, a delivery outlet, and a by-pass outlet; a second hollow cylinder having a valve seat at one end thereof and threadedly engaging the first cylinder adjacent said valve seat, and positioned within and spaced from the inner wall of the first cylinder to provide a pressure chamber, said second cylinder having a first orifice adjacent the valve seat and a second orifice spaced longitudinally from the first orifice; a piston situated between the said orifices and within the second cylinder, and adapted for longitudinal reciprocation therewithin, said piston having at one end thereof a valve member adapted to coact with the valve seat and a cup at the other end thereof; resilient means acting upon the cup to keep the valve member closed; whereby fluid under pressure may enter the inlet, pass into the pressure chamber, through the second orifice in the second cylinder and against the cup to oppose the resilient means and open the valve member, so that the fluid may pass through the first orifice in the second cylinder, through the open valve, and through the delivery outlet; and pressure relief means to allow the pressure in the pressure chamber to be released when the Valve member is in the closed position thereof, by allowing the fluid to escape through the by-pass outlet.

7. In an oil burner valve: a housing forming a first hollow cylinder with an outlet, an inlet, and an internal shoulder; a second hollow cylinder having a valve seat at one end thereof, and positioned within and spaced from the inner wall of the first cylinder to provide 'a'pressure chamber, said second cylinder having a plurality of openings, and a movable element therein; said element having at one end thereof a valve member adapted to coact with the valve seat, to form a first valve, and a cup at the other end thereof; said cup in conjunction with said shoulder forming a second valve; resilientmeans acting upon the cup to keep the first and second valves closed; whereby fluid underpressure may enter the inlet, pass into the pressure chamber, through the openings in the second cylinder and against the cup to oppose the resilient means and open the first and second valves at a predetermined fluid pressure.

8. In an oil burner valve: a housing, forming a first hollow cylinder with an outlet, an inlet, and an internal shoulder; a second hollow cylinder having a valve seat at one end thereof, and

positioned within and spaced from the inner wall of the-first cylinder to provide apressure chamber, said second cylinder having a plurality of openings, and a movable element therein; said element having at one end thereof a valve member adapted to coact with the valve seat to form a first valve, and a cup at the other end thereof; said cup in conjunction with said shoulder forming a second valve; resilient means acting upon 

